T’is the season to be jolly, so they say. At this time of year, winter markets are abundant, selling aromatic gingerbread biscuits, honey-roasted nuts, and infamously famous German street market hot dogs like Bratwursts and Frankfurters. These markets are a special treat that only poke their heads out of their hidden corners during the festive season. 

Sometimes, we forget how delightful a good hot dog is. It packs a mighty punch as far as being a comfort food. Equally, we tend to stick to traditional variations when there are so many alternatives to explore. 

This article is about enhancing the simple hot dog recipe with creative alternatives. It’s about exploring the sausage world to discover new flavour combinations that might tantalise your tastebuds and make you the talk of the town amongst your friends. 

More than this, it is about being inclusive to ensure that no one is left out, with our range of gluten-free sausages. So, strap on your bibs, because hot dog season might get messy. 

What is a hot dog?

It sounds like a silly question, but without it, we have no foundation upon which to build new flavours and styles without changing the fundamental nature of what a hot dog is. 

In essence, a hot dog is a sausage in an elongated bread bun. It is often accompanied by onions, ketchup and mustard. Some people add other ingredients like cheese or bacon, but as far as creativity goes, most hot dog stands - the most common vendors, traditionally, don’t go much further than that. 

Hot dog’s mixed roots

The origin of the infamous hot dog is complex. The sausages originate from Germany and Austria. Frankfurters, as the name suggests, came from Frankfurt, whereas Wieners, are from Vienna, The name sheds a clue as it is common to replace ‘V’ sounds with ‘W’ sounds, when translating, especially when you account for accents. 

The classical hot dog, however, is believed to be an American creation. German immigrants introduced their sausages to America in the mid-20th century, and the Americans introduced the concept of serving them in an elongated bun topped with onions, ketchup and mustard. 

It was a culinary marriage that has become a favourite snack all over the world. It is one of the most popular street foods, often sold at football games, market stalls, and fun fairs. 

Now, we have an entire array of hot dog styles to choose from, including meat-free and gluten-free, all with unique flavours from different cultures. 

This blog post looks at two of the nation's favourite comfort foods, both in the winter and the summer. And, as well as comparing them, we provide a unique recipe that combines them, so you don’t have to choose between them. 

Let’s explore some of the most famous hot dogs you can get your teeth stuck into. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Must read:The Origins Of The Infamous Chicken Shawarma ______________________________________________________________________________________

Classic dog - Considered the mother of hot dogs, a juicy sausage or gluten-free sausage on a soft bun, topped with your favourite condiments like ketchup, mustard, and relish. 

Chicago-style dog - Chicago’s iconic hot dog sausage, piled high with yellow mustard, green relish, chopped onions, tomato slices, pickles, sport peppers, and celery salt. 

Chilli cheese dog - A gluten-free sausage topped with a rich chilli sauce and melted cheese. 

Bacon-wrapped dog - A slight twist on the classical recipe that wraps bacon around the hot dog sausage. This option is not suitable for followers of Islam unless you use chicken bacon. 

Grilled cheese dog - A gourmet twist, where the gluten-free sausage is sandwiched between two slices of grilled cheese, making a creamy, irresistible hot dog.  

Sauerkraut dog - A tangy and savoury combination of gluten-free sausage on a bed of Sauerkraut, sometimes topped with onions, cheese and relish - a perfect, healthy twist to a classic recipe. 

Pulled pork dog - A BBQ-inspired hot dog sausage topped with tender pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw. A good alternative for followers of Islam is pulled beef. It is just as delicious and packs more protein and nutrition. 

Loaded baked potato dog - This is a filling option, sometimes referred to as a gut-buster. You take your favourite sausage of choice, including gluten-free sausage, and top it with mashed potatoes, cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream.  

Loaded baked potato dog - This is a filling option, sometimes referred to as a gut-buster. You take your favourite sausage of choice, including gluten-free sausage, and top it with mashed potatoes, cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream.  

An alternative for followers of Islam is chicken bacon or pulled beef. 

Breakfast dog - A unique breakfast treat; you take the classic hot dog sausage, and top it with scrambled eggs and cheese for a delightful start to your day. 

Hawaiian dog - A tropical twist to the classical recipe. You place your gluten-free sausage in its bun and top it with pineapple and teriyaki sauce -Yum! 

Korean BBQ dog - This takes the classical recipe and fuses it with traditional Korean flavours. Simply add Korean BBQ sauce, kimchi, and sesame seeds to your gluten-free or regular sausages to relish in this East-Asian treat. 

Dessert dog - Not for those short of sweet teeth. Take your regular or spicy sausages and top them with chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and whipped cream. A popular dish at dessert diners. 

Variety is the spice of life

Variety brings novelty and a sense of discovery that we always find satisfying. The recipes above illustrate that there are so many ways to take a traditional recipe and adjust it to encompass a whole world of flavours. 

But, you can go further just by experimenting with the same recipes using different ingredients. Halal Origins has an array of flavoured sausages and most of our sausages are gluten-free, so dietary restrictions shouldn’t get in the way of you enjoying your favourite treats. 

We have gluten-free lamb sausages, gluten-free chicken sausages, and gluten-free beef sausages - you are completely spoilt for choice. 

Final Thoughts 

Our delightful recipe options allow you to try a new variety of sausage hot dogs every day for the first 12 days of the festive winter season. 

It’s the perfect way to treat yourself while getting your protein fix. Our gluten-free sausages make it easy for you to enjoy your favourite foods, guilt-free. We have an array of flavours to choose from, whether you like herby flavours, garlic infusions, or spicy mouth burners - we have something for you.  

Halal Origins prides itself on being inclusive and festive all year around. By creating wonderful flavours and sharing exquisite recipes, we hope to bring joy to you and your family at dinner time.